When fitting hinges, measurements
and clearances make very little difference if you do not follow
through with neat and accurate cutting and drilling.
Most butt hinges have to be recessed
into both the door and the door facing and when the hinge is
installed only the knuckle of the hinge should be visible.
Commonly the hinge is used as a
template by marking around the outline with a pencil and then
using a chisel is used to cut out the recess. More often than not,
what you end up with is a jagged cut around the perimeter of the
hinge recess.
To make sure you have a neat cut
around the hinges on your new door, use the tip below.
Lay the hinge against the edge of
the door and the facing where it is to be mounted and screw … now
you have a template that won’t move about while you do the next
step.
Use
a retractable blade Stanley knife and with the blade set at twice
the thickness of the hinge leaf, score along the perimeter of the
hinge leaf, ensuring that the body of the Stanley knife is resting
on the top face of the hinge as illustrated. If done correctly the
depth of the cut should end up being the thickness of the leaf of
the hinge. Cutting the timber fibres in this manner provides a
definite starting spot for a chisel and prevents compressing the
fibres along the edges.
Now remove the screws and hinge and
using the hinge as a guide, score a line between the two cuts you
previously made. This will provide you with a clear reference when
chiselling out the recess.
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